[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-124":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Star Martial Era",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2274982,4448,"Chapter 124: Old Qi","the-star-martial-era-chapter-124",124,"\u003Cp>Inside the first-floor training realm of Zhaixing Tower, Xu Jin stared at the name “Qi Tian Da Sheng” at the top of the leaderboard, then at the unfamiliar second and third names, feeling a profound loneliness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, Xu Jin received a starlight message from Zuiyue Xianzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Great Sage, I am forging a star. I’ll wait for you in the second- or third-floor training realm—Zuiyue Xianzi】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, Yue Zhongying was nothing special; even Zuiyue Xianzi had already gone to forge a star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that first-floor training realm champion, “Treading the Star River,” whom Xu Jin had long wanted to fight, had left for star-forging long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xu Jin felt he had nothing left to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before forging a star, this first-floor training realm had lost all meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No opponents. No friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Alright, till we meet again in the martial world】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending Zuiyue Xianzi a starlight message, Xu Jin was about to leave when another starlight message flew in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened it—it was a challenge from the new second-place contender in the first-floor training realm, Blood-Drinking Spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had intended to refuse; his current strength meant even the former third-place contender, let alone the former second-place Zuiyue Xianzi, could no longer threaten him, offering little practical combat value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he realized: for the next few days, he would be unable to enter Zhaixing Tower’s training realms while forging a star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this guy kept challenging daily, and Xu Jin refused to fight for three straight days, he’d automatically drop to second place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rank didn’t matter—but maintaining it granted starlight rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never go against wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Xu Jin planned to give Blood-Drinking Spear a brutal lesson—so severe he’d dare not challenge Xu Jin again for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin accepted the challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minute later, the battle began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin let Blood-Drinking Spear close in, taking three star arts directly without dodging or blocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three consecutive star arts struck, Blood-Drinking Spear shattered only one of Xu Jin’s star shields, causing faint ripples across Xu Jin’s protective starlight barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Blood-Drinking Spear’s stunned gaze, Xu Jin flicked his fingers lightly—five star arrows erupted simultaneously from his five fingertips!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Blood-Drinking Spear was shattered into starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Qi Tian Da Sheng: Victory】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a secluded pavilion somewhere in Chu Guo, a boy suddenly sat bolt upright, staring at the Zhaixing Token in his hand, the scene of his defeat replaying endlessly in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the scene replayed again and again, the boy’s face grew paler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the gap between me and the world’s top star-eater really this vast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I struck three times in succession—and still couldn’t break his defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he killed me like slaughtering a chicken!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even senior cultivators in the Star-Forging realm aren’t this terrifying…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just who is Qi Tian Da Sheng…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had no idea his one strike had inflicted deep psychological trauma on the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After winning, Xu Jin immediately left the first-floor training realm of Zhaixing Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought about it—there really wasn’t much left to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, he focused his mind into the Candou Platform’s starlamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who said he had nothing to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newly acquired Rain Curtain Star Pattern and Whale Swallow Star Pattern were still waiting for him to forge them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingji Star Pattern was truly extraordinary—Xu Jin could now clearly sense Ning Yuchan’s presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan had been in another room, ten meters away, using star power to warm and nourish Jiang Er’s mid-star palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One session lasted a full hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the nourishment ended, Xu Jin noticed Ning Yuchan’s presence in the Mingji Star Pattern had grown significantly weaker; when he went to greet her, she looked utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially mentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t understood before—but now he understood completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When star power circulated within oneself, it was as natural as moving one’s limbs—thought and intent aligned instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when star power circulated within another’s body, there were two types: offensive and nourishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former was easy—just charge through and destroy. The latter, however, drained immense mental energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder only close kin in great families were willing to nourish a junior’s mid-star palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This task was exhausting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it had to be done daily, without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another heavy debt of gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin now had so many debts he no longer worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his current strength, he wasn’t yet worthy to repay such a debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by striving to cultivate, until his cultivation base was sufficient, could he ever repay Ning Yuchan’s countless acts of kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin found it strange: Ning Yuchan had clearly taken her leave—he had even personally escorted her to the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he returned to his quiet chamber and resumed forging star patterns, the Mingji Star Pattern in his lower star palace suddenly flickered—Ning Yuchan’s familiar aura had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she hadn’t left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This puzzled Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was Ning Yuchan secretly lingering in his home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spying on him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dong Zhao and Ning Yuchan had suspected Xu Jin of any wrongdoing, why bother spying? With such a vast power gap, they could have simply captured him outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few breaths passed before Xu Jin realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Protection!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan had secretly returned to the Xu household to guard him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Xu Jin realize: the high-grade Star-Forging Pills and regular Star-Forging Pills he carried were, in fact, an astonishing fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On August 6, at dawn, when Xu Jin’s spirit power reached its peak, he swallowed one three-layer high-grade Tui Fan Pill and practiced the Spirit-Power Body Refinement and Rebirth Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still hadn’t achieved the ninth round of blood and marrow purification—no change on his skin, no impurities oozing out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin was quite excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unsuccessful, he felt it—especially under the Mingji Star Pattern’s enhancement—he sensed the pill’s power and spirit power had thoroughly permeated every corner of his body, triggering subtle, indescribable changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All day on August 6, Xu Jin continuously engraved two new star patterns within the starlamp; when tired or bored, he practiced his Nine Veins Divine Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Ning Yuchan arrived as usual. After nourishing Jiang Er’s mid-star palace and leaving, she quietly returned and guarded Xu Jin through the night before departing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the morning of August 7, Xu Jin awoke, feeling his spirit power restored to peak condition. After brief preparation, he swallowed his last three-layer high-grade Tui Fan Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this one still failed to complete the ninth refinement, he had no more options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The potency of a three-layer high-grade Tui Fan Pill was six times that of a regular high-grade Tui Fan Pill—three pills equaled eighteen regular ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with his Spirit-Power Level Six, if this still failed, then fate simply denied him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin still felt hopeful—yesterday’s practice had felt different; something deep within his body had already been breached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, when this high-grade Tui Fan Pill entered his belly and dissolved into surging medicinal power, Xu Jin’s spirit power, carrying the torrent, surged into his body’s depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agony struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, deep within his five viscera and six bowels—each surge brought an inexplicable, searing pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if his organs were collapsing inward, yet after the pain passed, an overwhelming sense of relief followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, with each surge of agony, Xu Jin saw a thin mist of blood seep from his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist was dark black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the hallmarks of achieving the ninth round of blood and marrow purification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood residue!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it had only just begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin used his spirit power to guide the surging medicinal power, relentlessly cleansing every deepest corner of his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the five viscera and six bowels, to the fatty tissues, to the marrow, to the depths of the spine—each time he cleansed a new area, a layer of black blood mist seeped from his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as cleansing continued, the color of the mist gradually shifted from dark red to pure red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, it became actual blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, Xu Jin felt his entire body had been cleansed—but still, something was missing; the ninth round of purification remained incomplete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spirit-Power Body Refinement and Rebirth Technique had already explained this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, only one final step remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed two high-grade Shen Shen Pills, each refined to one layer. With his spirit power slightly restored, he directed the surging medicinal power, wrapped in spirit power, carefully into his head, beginning to cleanse his skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cleansing the head was the most critical and difficult step in blood and marrow purification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why at least a Spirit-Star was required to attempt it—and why stronger spirit power increased the chance of success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this step was the hardest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six yang’s supreme head—if star power surged too violently, the head would suffer severe injury and collapse into unconsciousness before the ninth refinement could finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the star force is not sufficiently turbulent, it cannot achieve the effect of body refining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must use a vast quantity of spiritual soul force as a vessel to carry the star force and cleanse the head, ensuring the Six Yang Supreme Head remains unharmed and completing the final step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the spiritual soul force is also being tested—if it is insufficient, this final step will fail at the last moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xu Jin’s sixth-layer Star Refinement spiritual soul force, by this final step, had dwindled to less than three-tenths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two top-grade Soul-Reviving Elixirs restored less than one-tenth of his spiritual soul force; in the next instant, Xu Jin enveloped the medicinal force and star force in a vast torrent of spiritual soul force and began cleansing his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely thirty seconds into the cleansing, black blood spurted from Xu Jin’s nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several breaths, black blood spurted from his eyes and ears, and seeped through the skin of his face and head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fifteen minutes, as blood simultaneously erupted from Xu Jin’s eyes, ears, and nostrils, an indescribable sense of openness surged through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body felt as if something had been completely unblocked, as if every pore had begun to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin suddenly realized—he had succeeded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, a torrent of star force surged into every pore of Xu Jin from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s nearly depleted star force rapidly replenished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Xu Jin stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not initiated any activation—the star force had begun restoring on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin focused his mind, visualizing the Great Star Cluster Pattern within his Star Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the rate at which star force flooded into Xu Jin’s body doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than half a minute, Xu Jin’s completely depleted star force had not only returned to peak, but its total quantity had reached an even higher level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a minute!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The star force recovery rate has doubled—is this the power of the Immaculate Primordial Star Body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin carefully felt the changes for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After achieving nine rounds of hair-and-bone purification, Xu Jin’s total star force had increased by another two-tenths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His star force recovery rate had doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a prolonged battle, others might recover only half—or even less—of their star force in half a minute, but Xu Jin’s was already fully restored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This advantage wasn’t limited to combat—it greatly enhanced Xu Jin’s cultivation efficiency as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speed at which star force circulated within his body had noticeably increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time it took to channel star force from the Great Star Cluster Pattern on his chest and unleash it had become extremely fast, but the duration was too brief for Xu Jin to make an accurate comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several breaths, Xu Jin attempted to compare the power of his star techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, the range of his Star Arrow had reached twenty-five feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, after achieving nine rounds of hair-and-bone purification, his star force cap had increased by two-tenths, so the Star Arrow’s range should have increased by two feet. In the next instant, Xu Jin casually unleashed several star techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star Arrows, Star Rings, Star Cords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of all star techniques had noticeably improved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The range of the Star Arrow had increased by three feet—to a staggering twenty-eight feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly ten meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Ring could now extend up to fourteen feet, the Star Cord up to nineteen feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing these astonishing changes, Xu Jin even conceived a tactic designed to infuriate his enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even geniuses like Meng Qingqiu had Star Arrow ranges of only about fifteen feet—roughly four and a half meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if Xu Jin always maintained a distance from Meng Qingqiu greater than five meters but less than nine meters, the battle would become one where geniuses like Meng Qingqiu were constantly struck, yet could never land a hit on Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a frustrating battle—someone with a petty mind would likely be driven to rage and bleed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin heard Jiang Er’s footsteps—she must have come to bring him food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, Xu Jin shot out and darted into the bathing chamber like lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would this bloody, terrifying appearance not frighten Jiang Er into fainting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next hour, Xu Jin continuously experienced the various changes brought by the nine rounds of hair-and-bone purification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the changes weren’t limited to star force and numerical improvements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In practical tactics, for example, the Kite Ring technique now flowed more smoothly and connected more stably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the Nine Meridian Divine Sword technique now launched faster and with higher frequency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But according to Old Qi, achieving nine rounds of hair-and-bone purification and forming the Immaculate Primordial Star Body wasn’t merely about strengthening one’s foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The later one advanced, the greater the benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The higher one’s cultivation base, the greater the advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of Old Qi, Xu Jin felt a pang of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days had passed, and Old Qi had sent no word, no star message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had dared not send any star message either, fearing he might disturb Old Qi’s escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he thought he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had good news to report!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin sank his mind into the Star-Picking Token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, today I have successfully completed nine rounds of hair-and-bone purification and formed the Immaculate Primordial Star Body. I have also secured first place in the Autumn Examination of the Chen Guo Dao Academy and will cast my Star tomorrow. I await your return!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master, you must come back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The starlight faded, the message vanished into the distance—but Xu Jin did not know whether Old Qi would receive it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the mountains along the border between Yanzhou and Songzhou, at the bottom of a small stream, a black stone-like object suddenly stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten li away, a figure instantly noticed the anomaly, fired off a signal, and with starlight flashing beneath his feet, sped away in lightning-fast Star Stepping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few breaths, he arrived above the stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he prepared to search, the stream water below suddenly solidified into a water dragon and shot straight upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Qi the Demon, you’re here after all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ju, Commander of the Star Patrol of the Yanzhou Branch of the Tianyang Star Temple, roared, slamming star force like a grinding wheel toward the water dragon while releasing another signal to mark Qi Shanye’s location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Hu Xuechuan and another colleague were both within a hundred li—they would arrive within twenty to thirty breaths!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ju instantly shattered the water dragon, revealing Qi Shanye’s form; in the next instant, Qi Shanye’s eyes blazed with a flash of divine light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, Zhu Ju, who had just shattered the water dragon, suddenly suffered excruciating head pain—blood erupted from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose—his spiritual soul had suffered severe damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately tumbled from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having severely wounded Zhu Ju, Qi Shanye instantly rushed toward the stream to finish him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, starlight flashed from afar—clearly visible, it was none other than Hu Xuechuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Qi Shanye about to finish Zhu Ju, Hu Xuechuan roared, “You dare!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do I dare not do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Shanye plunged into the stream and crushed the skull of Zhu Ju, the fallen Commander of the Yanzhou Branch Star Patrol of the Tianyang Star Temple, into pulp beneath his foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, Hu Xuechuan’s Star Locking Disc flared with starlight—cluster after cluster of starlight, like meteors, hurtled toward Qi Shanye at blinding speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In previous encounters, Qi Shanye had always fled, never standing his ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, from his chest suddenly shot a conical star artifact, piercing the air with a shrill shriek and piercing through Hu Xuechuan’s first three starlight strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, during the battle, another figure appeared from the southeast, approaching rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hu Xuechuan was overjoyed—Zhu Ju was dead, but his death had been invaluable, buying Hu Xuechuan the chance to pin down Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t understand why Qi Shanye wasn’t fleeing today, why he had given him the chance to engage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t matter—what mattered was that after surrounding him, he could capture Qi Shanye alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the next instant, after Qi Shanye’s Star-Shattering Cone exhausted its power, though it erupted with blinding starlight,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>its surface suddenly ignited with a layer of star flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accelerated by the burning star flame, the Star-Shattering Cone surged forward with terrifying speed, striking Hu Xuechuan’s Star Locking Disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This move left Hu Xuechuan utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Burning a star artifact—was Qi Shanye going to destroy his own artifact?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star artifacts were already fused with the spiritual soul, intrinsically linked to the user.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Qi Shanye destroyed his artifact, even if he injured his enemy, he would suffer grave injury himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hu Xuechuan knew well—his Star Locking Disc was the essential tool for tracking Qi Shanye; if it were damaged, he would never be able to pursue Qi Shanye again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, Hu Xuechuan frantically activated his Star Locking Disc, desperately trying to evade the Star-Shattering Cone’s strike and prevent its destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Qi Shanye stepped forward, starlight surging from his palm like a dragon, deliberately blocking the Star Locking Disc’s escape paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan, now desperate, instantly unleashed his full power to protect the Star Locking Disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Qi Shanye’s body itself began to ignite with thin threads of star flame; instantly, the starlight dragon he unleashed shattered Hu Xuechuan’s starlight and sealed off every possible retreat path of the Star Locking Disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Locking Disc was about to be struck by Qi Shanye’s self-destructing Star-Shattering Cone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan’s eyes bulged with rage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi Shanye, you dare!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m in high spirits today! What do I dare not do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it means dying, I’m willing!” As Qi Shanye roared, the Star-Shattering Cone, engulfed in layers of burning star flame, accelerated even further toward the Star Locking Disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to destroy it—just crippling the Star Locking Disc would give him a chance to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why he had sacrificed his artifact and burned his own star force today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, there was truly no way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Qi Shanye’s Star-Shattering Cone was about to strike the Star Locking Disc, a figure suddenly lunged and threw himself onto the disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the final instant, Hu Xuechuan himself stepped directly in front of the Dingxing Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the Star-Shattering Cone, blazing with layers of starlight, slammed through Hu Xuechuan’s chest, carving out a massive hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood gushed violently from Hu Xuechuan’s mouth as he suffered severe injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Dingxing Pan was preserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, Qi Shanye’s star artifact, the Star-Shattering Cone, shattered into fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Shanye, struck by backlash, spat blood continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping blood from his lips, Qi Shanye sneered at the grievously wounded Hu Xuechuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Hu Xuechuan was indeed a ruthless man—he had sacrificed his own body to protect the Dingxing Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at the other Joudou Realm expert drawing near, Qi Shanye sighed inwardly, helpless, as he stared at the mortally wounded Hu Xuechuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No chance left!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the only opportunity he’d had in years to kill Hu Xuechuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Qi Shanye knew his own condition better than anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three days of extreme flight, today’s desperate strike, and the recent self-explosion of his star artifact, Qi Shanye was at his absolute limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet another fifth-rank Joudou Realm expert from the Tianyang Star Temple was arriving any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Qi Shanye shot skyward, leaping across the stars as he fled—each step sending blood spraying from his mouth, each step accompanied by laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just received a starlight message from Xu Jin announcing good news, and that was why he had pushed himself to the brink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad he hadn’t destroyed the Dingxing Pan—if he had, it would have been a permanent solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the results were not bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan was grievously wounded; at least he had bought himself some breathing room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the wound, Hu Xuechuan wouldn’t be able to track him for three or four days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three or four days was enough for him to shake off the Dingxing Pan’s precise tracking and temporarily evade Hu Xuechuan’s pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, don’t worry—your old teacher isn’t that easy to kill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still want to see you unleash your full power after refining your Ninefold Purification Star Body! You boy, focus on forging your star core—I’m waiting for your good news. Don’t worry about me!” As he fled, Qi Shanye sent a starlight message to Xu Jin, spitting out more blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes later, Qi Shanye gradually stopped spitting blood, his form reabsorbing into the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the mountains, Lin Lie, the newly arrived Chief Instructor of the Tianyang Star Temple’s Yanzhou Branch, stood guard as Hu Xuechuan, with great effort, pulled out a jade tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Hu Xuechuan crushed the jade tablet; a surge of vibrant starlight surged into the massive wound on his abdomen, swiftly purging the lingering star artifact energy and healing the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Lin Lie, on guard, watched Hu Xuechuan with envy in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star-Healing Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a rare and hard-to-obtain mid-tier seal capable of rapid wound recovery—hard to find on the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When one occasionally appeared at auctions, it fetched a fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected the Sect Master would carry such a healing seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely why Hu Xuechuan dared to shield the star artifact with his own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he would never have been so reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, life was more important than anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he could preserve his life while protecting the Dingxing Pan, it was worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the Dingxing Pan remained intact, Qi Shanye could not escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the Dingxing Pan were destroyed, with Qi Shanye’s elusive star concealment arts, finding him again would be like searching for a needle in a sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the years of hard work would vanish in an instant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a quarter-hour later, the massive wound on Hu Xuechuan’s abdomen began to heal while purging residual star energy, and Hu Xuechuan landed among the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sect Master, should I continue guarding you or pursue that old devil?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guard me—you couldn’t catch him anyway. I’ll recover within a day at most. That old devil Qi won’t get far!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Lie nodded, then added, “Sect Master, the branch has suffered heavy losses—it’s already drawn the Star Lord’s attention. How should we respond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell the truth: say it was the Lingji Star Temple’s remnants, Mo Ji, colluding with the Blood God Cult, who launched a surprise attack after luring me away. I am currently pursuing the Demon Arrow,” Hu Xuechuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it—I’ll arrange it immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Use this time to handle it properly. Unify the stories of everyone inside and outside the branch who knows. In addition, double the compensation for the fallen, and issue orders to all commanderies to launch large-scale crackdowns against the Blood God Cult—results are mandatory,” Hu Xuechuan ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Lie frowned. “Sect Master, all commandery branches have already mobilized, but the results are minimal—we haven’t killed many Blood God Cultists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan, enraged, spat another mouthful of blood. “How could there be no Blood God Cultists? If they want them, they can find them easily!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Issue orders in my name: each commandery branch must deliver at least thirty Blood God Cultists. Whoever fails, I’ll replace them immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!” Lin Lie now understood Hu Xuechuan’s intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4090,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","34f8e2d02b1840a1ce867a0dd287641eaf8f8c7eea2848bcb636cb815b545776","the-star-martial-era-chapter-125","the-star-martial-era-chapter-123",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]